Boot Camp of the Rockies will celebrate 1-year in Cortez on May 2

People high-five each other in an ending ritual to a BCOR workout at Parque de Vida. BCOR will celebrate its one-year anniversary in Cortez.

When people think of boot camp, it’s not a peaceful thought.

But a group fitness boot camp? Well, that idea has seem to stick.

Boot Camp of the Rockies was introduced in Cortez last April and is still going strong. To celebrate, BCOR’s smallest community will hold a one-year anniversary workout on Wednesday, May 2, at Parque de Vida. The event encourages the public to attend.

“We want to show people what BCOR offers,” said coach and trainer, Rayna Hale. “We (Cortez) were kind of an experiment for the BCOR brand. We’ve done really well. Group fitness works. That’s why I continue to be involved in it.”

May 2 is also when Hale and fellow coach/trainer Darren Murray will move the all yellow shirt program outside.

“Its about looking the same and being the same,” said Hale about the yellow BCOR shirts.

BCOR will remain outdoors until Oct 1. The program has worked with the Cortez Recreation Center for indoor workouts during the cold months.

“We had to really gain their trust and have them accept our product,” said Hale about BCOR’s relationship with the Cortez Rec. Center. “We brought them something different. I think on both sides, we’ve met our challenges. That’s why we’re at our one-year anniversary.”

Cortez Parks and Recreation director, Dean Palmquist, agrees the relationship with BCOR has been a good one.

“I think it’s been such a positive direction we’ve gone,” he said. “It’s expanded the base of people that we wouldn’t have reached otherwise. Through their program, we’ve been able to reach more people (to come to the rec. center).”

Cortez Rec. Center operations coordinator, Dan Jones, is a BCOR participant and has lost 30 pounds while in the program.

“My whole medical history has changed just dramatically,” he said. “I was having cholesterol problems, kidney problems. Everything is just all back on track.”

Based in Colorado, BCOR has more than 400 locations, generally in major cities.

Hale and Murray have held workout sessions Monday through Friday. The camp generally includes, pushups, sit ups and running. Other days will include more biking or even water aerobics.

Workouts are designated specifically for the shape people are in. Changing up the workout each day is to get maximum results.

Interval training is a major part of the boot camp, which is periods of high intensity exercise with low intensity activity. Some of the high and low activities include, hop scotch, disc golf, jump roping and skating.

“We even incorporate some of those things that we did as children,” Murray said. “We may even get them down doing bear crawls, crab walks, especially for those crabby days.”

The Cortez BCOR program has evolved the last year. There is now a family session on Saturdays and the new “secret starters,” which is for people who have never worked out and want to get started. It runs on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

“We get started at 5:30 in the morning. It’s for people self conscious about going to the gym,” said Hale about secret starters. “BCOR is fitness for everyone.”

Margaret O’Brien, a BCOR participant, has had a very positive experience.

“If you want a hard workout but don’t want to be on a machine in a gym, BCOR is perfect,” she said. “Rayna and Darren provide a structured program in our beautiful park that is a huge challenge. When you push your body hard for an hour, it pays you back by giving you an incredible feeling of well-being for the rest of the day, in addition to becoming stronger and healthier. A great secondary effect, is that everyone who has stayed with BCOR, has lost a bunch of weight.”

Jaime Daves added.

“I really enjoy BCOR. It is a great way to start the morning,” she said. “My energy level is awesome for the whole day after a BCOR workout.”

Jack Nickerson and Judy Lente do mountain climbers, a strength training exercise, in a BCOR workout at Parque de Vida.

BCOR facts and pricing

Boot Camp of the Rockies (BCOR) is based in Colorado.There are more than 400 BCOR locations.Cortez is the smallest BCOR city.Cortez BCOR will celebrate its one-year anniversary on Wednesday, May 2, at Parque de Vida.Classes begin as early as 6:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. The Saturday family session begins at 9:30 a.m. Secret starters is at 5:30 a.m., Monday, Wednesday and Friday.Prices: Single session, $4; family session, $10; single monthly membership, $30; and, family monthly membership, $45.Information: Local BCOR website is www.dnrfitness.com or visit www.bcor.net.Contact: Rayna Hale, 560-3916. Darren Murray, 739-1834. Email DNR.fittness@yahoo.com">DNR.fittness@yahoo.com.